Charlottetown Privateers optimistic about new turf fields following committee meeting
CBC
Grey and blue jerseys flooded Charlottetown City Hall as the Privateers Football Club took a plea for new turf fields directly to the parks, recreation and leisure activities committee.
Well over 100 people showed up Wednesday night in support of the tackle and flag football group, which has been advocating for two multi-use turf fields to be built near Simmons Sports Centre.
Following the meeting, club spokesperson Paul Trewin said he is cautiously optimistic that their request will be approved.
"I think the committee was very open to our presentation. I think they were very impressed with the commitment of all the kids and parents that came out tonight," Trewin said.
"I think that was the biggest impact.... It showed how desperate the football community is in Charlottetown to have first-class facilities."
The club has been without a permanent home since their field on Longworth Avenue shut down in 2023 because its state of disrepair was causing safety concerns.
But Trewin said the club had been calling for a new field for years. Not only was the one on Longworth not maintained properly, he said it had no bathrooms or changing facilities.
"It's been frustrating," he said. "It's time for us to get with what the other communities have and to build a proper first-class facility for football."
Despite having limited luck thus far, Trewin knows there is strength in numbers — and those numbers were certainly not lacking at Wednesday's meeting.
Charlottetown's council chambers were packed, and even more waited in the hallway. The crowd clapped when committee chair Mitchell Tweel showed support for their project.
"I think it's fantastic and I think it's long overdue," Tweel said.
"The City of Charlottetown has never really built a regulation CFL-size football field here in the capital city, and support here tonight demonstrates quite clearly times up."
Trewin told the committee that the club is growing. Securing places to play has been a challenge and created problems with retaining players.
He said they've had to move between the Simmons grass fields, UPEI and the soccer complex in Winsloe, all while playing so-called home games in Cornwall.
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